FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: On The Wrong Track

Now on Tuesdays…at least for the foreseeable future…welcome to Flash Fiction Tuesday. In case you don’t know what flash fiction is, it is an extremely short story (sometimes created in 100 words or less) with a beginning, middle, and an ending. But in my case, I write flash fiction with an open ending. I allow my readers to draw their own conclusion as to what happens next to the characters of each story. This week we stumble…on the wrong track…

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Stuart didn’t know if it was the cold metal pressing against his back or the far off whistle of the train bringing him back to his senses. His eyes were still closed against the light and he wanted to shake his head to clear the drugged cobwebs away, but it hurt too much to attempt it. Was he near some train tracks? Stuart opened his eyes just as another whistle echoed into the distance. A sharp jolt of adrenaline shot through his body and Stuart’s eyes widened as he realized he wasn’t just near some railroad tracks but on them!

There wasn’t time to wonder how he got there. He could just make out the dark shape of the locomotive, it’s headlight cutting through the early morning mist as he struggled against the ropes binding him to the steel tracks. His eyes stung from sweat as corded muscles strained to break free. Could that conductor see there was someone lying in the shadows on the tracks? Would he be able to stop the train in time? Stuart wanted to scream but his throat constricted in terror. Time seemed to slow down as he watched the oncoming train racing toward him.

Another whistle pierced the air, much closer this time, and the tracks shook wildly beneath him as Stuart wondered if there would be pain or would he just suddenly cease to exist. If only he had more time. Time to hug his wife and young daughter once more. Time to eat that juicy steak he wanted last night instead of settling for a salad. Time to laugh and love and drink in all the life he can until he can hold no more. If only he had more time.

What was the use of fighting the inevitable? Stuart closed his eyes and said a prayer as the last screech of the train’s whistle ran over him and then…nothing. Nothing but the roaring clickety-clack of the cars rushing past him on the other track leading up the mountain. It wasn’t until the silence settled back into the valley that Stuart dared to open his eyes. His body shook, not from the cool morning air, as his mind tried to grasp the fact he was still alive. Now if he could just figure out how to get free before the next whistle blew…

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What happens next? Share your imagination with others by leaving a comment below!

International best selling, award winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, LUNADAR: Homeward Bound (a YA fantasy) is scheduled to be released in ebook edition by June 2018 from Story Catcher Publishing, with the print edition hopefully coming out late fall 2018.